Initiative aims to serve local small businesses

SARAH LOWERY

Staff Writer

A new initiative of the Lincoln Economic Development Association aims to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

The Lincoln Entrepreneur Growth Group (LEGG), an advisory network made up of service professionals from government, nonprofit, business and educational organizations, is hoping to support and aide entrepreneurs and small-business owners in the area in meeting their fullest potential.

Through a program called “Come Grow With Us,” the group will focus on enabling participants to grow their companies to the next level and then sustain that growth through sound operational and economically viable practices, according to a press release regarding LEGG.

The program is specifically geared toward “Stage 2” entrepreneurs, which Entrepreneur Growth Specialist Rhonda Hunter of LEDA said are those that have been in business two or three years, with revenues of at least $250,000 and between one and 99 employees.

“Through LEGG’s advisory network, you can collectively engage expertise where it is most needed and critical to your business enterprise’s success, specifically to your needs or challenges,” officials noted. “LEGG has taken the guesswork out of identifying the resources you may need.”

Using a local referral network, the group will provide access to various professional business services in areas like finance, legal and accounting, marketing and human resources, a list LEGG hopes to continue to expand as it proactively seeks the “best in their fields to serve Lincoln County businesses wanting to grow,” the release said.

Those interested in the program can attend a “kick-start” event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the LEDA office on East Main Street in Lincolnton.